Johnson & Johnson vaccine approved

The pharma company Johnson and Johnson says it's beginning immediate distribution of its single-dose coronavirus vaccine following its formal approval by US regulators; President Biden called it exciting news.

Also on the programme, a court verdict in Germany brings a degree of justice to victims of torture in Syria; and the wonders of the ancient Mesopotamian site of Ur - a stop in Pope Frances' upcoming historic visit to Iraq.

To discuss these stories and others we are joined by Mary Dejevsky, a writer and broadcaster based in London and Ryan Heath, the global editor at Politico, the online news publication, from New York.

(Photo: Vials of Johnson & Johnson"s Janssen coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine; Credit : Reuters/File Photo)